Dec. 5, 2025, 5:09 a.m. ET
- Donald Trump’s approval rating is net negative, according to averages from multiple polling aggregators.
- Trump’s approval rating in the first year of both of his terms is lower than any other modern president at the same point, per Gallup.
- Democrats have overperformed in recent elections, sending a warning for Republicans in the 2026 midterm election.
The 2026 midterm elections are on the horizon, and politicians from both sides of the aisle are looking for clues on what way the electorate is swaying.
First, Democrats swept in the Nov. 4 state and local elections. Then, it was a surprisingly competitive race for a Republican stronghold Congressional district in Tennessee.
While the Republicans ultimately won the Dec. 2 special election, it took President Donald Trump getting involved in the race to push turnout.
Which leads to another major clue, as Republicans may fear a 2026 blue wave, how do voters feel about the man at the helm of the Republican party? Here is what to know about Trump’s approval rating:
What is Trump’s average approval rating?
Averages based on RealClearPolitics and New York Times aggregators show Trump’s approval rating is net negative, but may be stabilizing after a sharp drop last month.
As of Jan. 27, 50.5% approved, giving Trump a net positive rating until March 13, when it flipped to net negative with 47.8% approval, compared to 48.5% disapproval, RealClearPolitics graphics show. The approval rating reached a low on April 29 at 45.1% approval, which fell around Trump’s 100-day mark. It reached a new low of 42.3% on Nov. 14, as the controversy on Jeffrey Epstein’s emails heated up following the end of the government shutdown. As of Dec. 4, RealClearPolitics found 42.4% approve and 54.9% disapprove.
The New York Times aggregator showed Trump’s approval fell from 52% approval in January to 44% approval in April, and then mostly held steady for months. According to the Times, Trump’s term low is 41% approval, which he first reached on Nov. 12. His disapproval also notched up to 56% on Nov. 19, a high for this term per the aggregator. As of Dec. 4, 42% approve and 55% disapprove, per the New York Times.
How does President Donald Trump‘s approval rating compare to past presidents?
In a Gallup poll conducted from Nov. 3-25, 36% approved of Trump’s job performance.
A historical analysis by Gallup shows Trump’s approval ratings in November of his first years in office − both as the 45th and 47th presidents − are lower than any other modern president at the same time in their administrations. Here is how his November approval compares to other presidents in November of their first year of their terms, according to Gallup:
- Joe Biden (November 2021) – 42% approve
- Trump (November 2017) – 37% approve
- Barack Obama (November 2009) – 51% approve
- George W. Bush (November 2001) – 87% approve
- Bill Clinton (November 1993) – 49% approve
- George H.W. Bush (November 1989) – 70% approve
- Ronald Reagan (November 1981) – 52% approve
Gallup: Republicans sour on Trump, approval hits term low
Gallup’s monthly poll, conducted from Nov. 3-25, found Trump’s approval rating fell to 36% from 41% the month prior. The poll surveyed 1,321 adults with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. Among Republicans, Trump’s approval fell seven points and among Independents it fell eight points compared to last month’s Gallup poll.
It is Trump’s lowest approval rating in his second term from this pollster, though statistically similar to his July rating of 37% approval. Gallup reported his all-time low was at 34% in 2021 at the end of his term following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
Among issues, Trump receives the best approval on crime, and the worst on healthcare, according to Gallup.
Economist/YouGov: 7 weeks straight of net approval at least -15 points
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted Nov. 28-Dec. 1 found 38% approved of Trump’s job performance and 57% disapproved. The survey included 1,628 U.S. adult citizens with a margin of error of approximately 3%.
The pollster found this was the seventh straight week where Trump’s net approval is lower than -15 percentage points. Slumps that low only lasted a few weeks at a time in his first term, according to YouGov, but Biden had 28 consecutive weeks with approval that low toward the end of his presidency.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her onX (Twitter),Bluesky andTikTok.
